SCHUMER: ROCHESTER RESIDENTS’ PERSONAL INFORMATION IS BEING STOLEN AT AN ALARMING AND UNACEPTABLE RATE; SENATOR CALLS ON THE SECRET SERVICE TO ADDRESS UPTICK IN CREDIT CARD SKIMMERS TO KEEP PERSONAL INFO SAFE FROM CRIMINALS

Senator Says Secret Service Must Triple Their Efforts To End These Scams That Are Ripping Off Rochester Residents

Schumer To Secret Service: Do Everything Possible To End This Credit Skimmer Scam

U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer today urged the United States Secret Service to investigate and address a surge in card skimming incidents across the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. Schumer said card skimming scammers prey on consumers at popular retail locations like gas stations. The recent surge has impacted consumers at dozens of gas stations throughout the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. In Livingston County alone, over the past seven weeks more than 20 separate cases of credit card fraud were reported that officials believe are the direct result of skimmers recently uncovered at gas stations. Schumer said it is vital that the federal government addresses this form of fraud that victimizes hundreds of New Yorkers and creates fear in thousands more.

“Simply put, we cannot stand by and allow unsuspecting Rochester residents to be victims of these new, nefarious credit card skimmer scams,” said Senator Schumer. “These scams hurt residents who are simply running errands and unknowingly give criminals access to personal information, enabling them to drain bank accounts, steal identities, and sell private information for financial gain. That is why I am calling on the Secret Service to immediately triple their efforts to address these horrible scams. With skimming cases continuing to rise and criminals getting savvier, it is clear that the Secret Service must do more in Rochester to eliminate these scams.”

Schumer said the Secret Service has acknowledged that criminals are using card skimmers in a variety of ways, including the use of periscope skimmers, which are often undetectable to the untrained eye. Schumer stated further access to personal information obtained through these devices has enabled criminals to drain Rochester Finger Lake residents’ bank accounts, steal their identities, and sell private information for financial gain. Considering the frustration and destruction to lives that the stealing and misuse of this information can create for individuals, Schumer believes it is vital that the Secret Service and its partners do all that they can to stay one step ahead of these criminals. This includes enabling local law enforcement with the tools to identify these scams as quickly as possible, and increase efforts to inform Rochester’s consumers on how they can protect themselves and their personal financial information.

Specifically, Schumer is urging the Secret Service to commit to increasing the number of agents and resources to combat this growing threat of fraud and root out networks that seek to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. The Secret Service should partner with local law enforcement and federal authorities to coordinate information campaigns that allow employees and customers alike to more easily identify card skimming technology.

Schumer said the Secret Service cannot stand by and allow customers making necessary stops at the pump to worry that they may be at risk when using their credit or debit card for payment. The Secret Service must expand its efforts and lead the charge in eliminating these sorts of scams. Schumer said it is time for the Secret Service to work to counter the troubling number of card skimming incidents across the Rochester area.

A Copy of Schumer’s letter appears below:

Dear Director Alles:

I write today regarding a recent surge in card skimming incidents across a number of counties in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. Card skimming scammers prey on consumers at popular retail locations, in these cases specifically targeting consumers at gas stations throughout the Rochester region where skimmers have been uncovered at dozens of gas stations. In Livingston County alone over the past seven weeks more than 20 separate cases of credit card fraud were reported that officials believe is the result of skimmers recently uncovered at area gas stations. It is vital that we address this form of fraud that victimizes hundreds of New Yorkers and creates fear in thousands more.

As the Secret Service has acknowledged, criminals are using card skimmers in a variety of ways, including the use of periscope skimmers, which are often undetectable to the untrained eye. Further access to personal information obtained through these devices has enabled criminals to drain bank accounts, steal identities, and sell private information for financial gain. Considering the frustration and destruction to lives that the stealing and misuse of this information can create for individuals, we must do all that we can to stay one step ahead of these criminals. This includes enabling local law enforcement with the tools to identify these scams as quickly as possible, and better informing consumers of how they can protect themselves and their personal financial information.

Therefore, I am calling on the Secret Service to commit to increasing the number of agents and resources to combat this growing threat of fraud and root out networks that seek to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. The Secret Service should partner with local law enforcement and federal authorities to coordinate information campaigns that allow employees and customers alike to more easily identify card skimming technology.

We cannot stand by and allow customers making necessary stops at the pump to worry that they may be at risk when using their credit or debit card for payment. The Secret Service must redouble its efforts and lead the charge in eliminating these sorts of scams. I look forward to working with your agency to counter the troubling number of card skimming incidents across New York and invite you to contact my staff if you have any further questions regarding this request. I sincerely appreciate all of the work that you and your agents do to minimize these fraudulent events from occurring, in addition to all of the other work you do across the state.

We look forward to your response and working with you on this important matter.